Astrid Swan hails from Finland, a country perhaps best known for its epic, costume-clad metal bands, but she certainly doesn't sound like it. Her English language debut,
Poverina, croons like
Rufus Wainwright, shimmers like
Kate Bush, and glimmers with hints of Laurel Canyon artists like
Joni Mitchell and
Judee Sill; it's the kind of album, in other words, that will expand her reach beyond Finnish shores if only because it sounds familiar. Of course, one might wonder whether the world needs another
Wainwright, Antony, or
Regina Spektor, but
Swan manages to carve out a niche for herself, perhaps in virtue of the fact that she draws from a host of interesting role models. Her fascination with
Sill is loud and clear on the title track; like many of
Sill's compositions ("Lamb Ran 'Way with the Crown" comes to mind), "Poverina" is lush with loping pianos, jaunty flutes, and airy background vocals. "Rock 'N' Roll Blonde" is a lovely mash-up of
Tori Amos and
Mitchell; it's all dark piano chords and thick orchestration, recalling
From the Choirgirl Hotel and
Court and Spark in the same instant. Lyrically,
Swan is probably more akin to
Wainwright than the Laurel Canyon set; the words themselves play second fiddle to
Swan's flexible, clear, emotive alto. Like
Wainwright,
Swan is a charismatic performer; one is compelled to follow her, and she makes it easy to do so. And it's ultimately this charisma that makes
Poverina a compelling debut. These are conscientiously made songs; they're intelligent, whimsical, and entertaining to boot. But they wouldn't be anything without
Swan's skill as an actor and interpreter. ~ Margaret Reges